The northern lights are expected to be visible over northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula Friday night, Feb. 6, according to NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) forecast, but cloudy skies and snow could make viewing a challenge.
For Friday night, the view line on SWPC’s dashboard map shows people in up to nine states could see the northern lights, or aurora borealis. In Michigan, the glowing lights could be visible in the night skies from the Upper Peninsula as far south as Tawas City, Cadillac and Manistee.
However, local National Weather Service office predict cloudy skies and snow over much of the region, likely hampering any aurora visibility. Best viewing occurs in a dark, open area under clear skies, experts advise.
NOAA says a G0 geomagnetic storm, a worldwide disturbance of the Earth’s magnetic field, is expected to produce a Kp index of 4 on Tuesday night.
Kp is an index used to indicate the severity of the global magnetic disturbances in near-Earth space, NOAA said. Kp ratings increase from zero to 9. An index of 5 or greater typically means the northern lights may be visible across Michigan.
NOAA is predicting minor geomagnetic storm impacts.
Here’s what to know about the northern lights forecast.
When will the northern lights be visible?
The northern lights could be visible in northern Michigan and the UP Friday, Feb. 6, though predicted snow and clouds will likely interrupt viewing chances, the NWS and SWPC said.
What are the northern lights?
The northern lights, or aurora borealis, are waves of light created when the solar wind strikes the atmosphere, creating a display of moving lights in the night sky.
Auroras typically appear in a range of colors, including greens, pinks and reds, often featuring several shades of these colors.
Which states could see the northern lights?
The NOAA says the red view line marks the southernmost extent where aurora might be seen on the northern horizon.
Why do the northern lights have different colors?
The color of the aurora depends on which gas is being excited by the electrons and on how much energy is being exchanged, NASA said.
Oxygen emits either a greenish-yellow light (the most familiar color of the aurora) or a red light; nitrogen generally gives off a blue light. The oxygen and nitrogen molecules also emit ultraviolet light, which can only be detected by special cameras on satellites.
What is the corona?
The corona is the sun’s outermost atmosphere. The name comes from the Latin word for crown. The area of plasma, or highly ionized gas, extends thousands of kilometers above the sun’s visible surface, called the photosphere. The region is much hotter than the sun itself with temperatures ranging from 1 million Kelvin (1.7 million degrees Fahrenheit) to more than 10 million degrees K, the National Solar Observatory said.
Can’t see the northern lights? Use your phone
If you’re having trouble seeing the northern lights with the naked eye, try using your phone camera in night mode and hold still while capturing the photo. You might be surprised at what’s dancing in the sky.
Contact Jenna Prestininzi: jprestininzi@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Will northern lights shine over Michigan? 9 states could see aurora
Reporting by Jenna Prestininzi, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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